PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Last week, I had the privilege of chatting with a travel reporter about Brunswick and the surrounding region. Deb King, executive director of the Brunswick Downtown Association, was with me. As we chatted about trains, planes and automobiles and the myriad things to do in the Mid-coast area, the reporter commented, “Wow, it would take weeks to see all of this.”

L. Frank Baum once said, “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any farther than my own back yard.” As Deb and I chatted about all of the arts, culture, theater, maritime and military heritage, shopping, restaurants, educational partners, downtowns and natural wonders, I thought to myself, “The Mid-coast really does have it all; why look any farther?”

I think most folks would agree the addition of the Downeaster to our area has been a huge plus. BDA has done a spectacular job of building the Brunswick Visitor’s Center into an information hub that supports local and regional businesses alike. Main Street Bath has done likewise at the Bath Information Center. I am glad and feel very fortunate to be partners with both of these organizations — together, we can do more for our citizens, businesses, and municipal partners.

Our new Amtrak has brought ridership to Mid-coast Maine faster and in more quantities than expected. This means visitors are seeing Brunswick for the very first time, and while there are a multitude of things to do, sites to see, and places to eat within walking distance of the train station, outer Brunswick and the surrounding region has so much to share also.

My suggestion? After spending a day or two in Brunswick, folks can grab an “Allure of the Coast” from the chamber or one of the info centers and tour the Mid-coast.

Visitors can go in many different directions to start their journey, but I’ll start with my favorite: The beautiful islands and natural wonders in and around Arrowsic, Harpswell, Georgetown and Phippsburg. If you have not strolled through these towns lately, you are cheating yourself. The breath taking beauty of harbors, lobster boats, and “mom and pop” shops is simply amazing. I particularly like going out to Georgetown. Besides the natural beauty, one of my favorite candy stores is there — arguably the best Maine Needhams anywhere.

While not often thought of as tourist destinations, the towns of Topsham, Bowdoin, and Bowdoinham pack a “come and see me” punch that is second to none. From retail shopping to golfing to harvest festivals and more, these towns offer something for everyone. Every bit as beautiful as other areas of the Mid-coast, river walks and trails offer just as much entertainment as shopping and dining. The good news is you don’t have to choose … you can do both.

Richmond, Woolwich, and Dresden are also day trips that can turn into great overnight stays. With Swan Island within a stone’s throw of Richmond’s growing Main Street and Dresden’s creative artisan community, this part of Mid-coast Maine has a growing special niche like no other. Make sure you stop by the Old Goat Pub and let them know the chamber sent you.

With one of the top Main Streets in the nation, Bath is another destination of choice for anyone visiting the Mid-coast. From pubs to shopping to museums and rich maritime history, the City of Ships has something for everyone. One has but to stroll a little way and you can see why it has been named one of the top “Great American Main Streets” in the country. Visits to the Maine Maritime Museum and Maine’s First Ship will impress you with our boat building past; a trolley tour of Bath Iron Works will astound and amaze you with our precision shipbuilding today.

Another special thing about Bath and Brunswick is they are stops for the Maine Eastern Railroad. With a short train ride up the coast, an entirely different and enchanting scenery emerges. Maine’s prettiest village, Wiscasset, and the surrounding towns of Edgecomb and Westport Island will tempt you with their quaint shops, elegant dining, stunning natural beauty, and historic past. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for antiques, homemade ice cream, or something from Red’s Eats, you’ll be glad you stopped.

If you want to see the area by air, our good friends at Maine Coastal Flight at the Brunswick Executive Airport can accommodate your wishes with an aerial tour. If you want to travel by water, we have boat rentals in West Bath as well as charters and twilight cruises throughout the islands. You can even go whale watching.

In short, Mid-coast Maine has it all. If you are a visitor, whether you experience our region by train, plane, boat or automobile, the result will be the same: You’ll want to come back and see some more. For those of us who live here, we really do have it made. It is the way life should be … and I, for one, am glad to call it home.

UPCOMING EVENTS: “The Basics of Valuing Your Small Business” is the topic for the May 22 Business Success Seminar. The seminar is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road, Topsham. Reg Perry, founder of PFBF CPA’s, is the presenter.

“Strategies for Entrepreneurial Success” is the theme of the next Midcoast Women’s Networking Forum, May 22, 5 to 7:30 p.m., at the Captain Daniel Stone Inn, 10 Water St., Brunswick. Michelle Neujahr, director of Southern Midcoast Maine Community College’s Entrepreneurial Center, is the presenter. In addition, there is lots of time for networking. Tickets are $20 and reservations are required.

Please go to the chamber’s website (www.midcoastmaine.com), scrolling calendar to register for all of these events.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: The chamber welcomes K Grant Design, Vibrant One, Kyle Smith-State Farm Agent, Karen Schneider — Professional Writer and Cunningham Security Systems to its membership. Discover more about chamber members at www.midcoastmaine.com or download MyChamberApp for use on your mobile phone or tablet.

The chamber proudly serves 740 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.

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